What is DIPG?
What is DIPG?
This type of tumor is aggressive and cannot be surgically removed due to its location in the Pons (the pons is a part of your brainstem which links your brain to your spinal cord).
DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is a type of brain tumor found in an area of the brainstem known as the pons.
The name diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma describes how the tumor grows, where it is found, and what kinds of cells give rise to the tumor.
Diffuse means that the tumor is not well-contained – it grows out into other tissue so that cancer cells mix with healthy cells.
Intrinsic simply means "in", referring to the point or origin.
Pontine indicates that the tumor is found in a part of the brainstem called the pons. The pons is responsible for a number of important bodily functions, like breathing, sleeping, bladder control, and balance.
Glioma is a general term for tumors originating from glial cells. Glial cells are found throughout the brain. They make up the white matter of the brain that surrounds and supports the neurons (neurons are cells that carry messages in the brain).
DIPG vs. DMG: What's the Difference?
In short: DIPG describes where a tumor is. DMG describes what kind of tumor it is and includes DIPG. Every DIPG is a type of DMG, but not every DMG is a DIPG.
DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma)
DIPG is a fast-growing brain tumor in the pons, part of the brainstem that controls essential functions like breathing, heart rate, swallowing, balance, and eye movement. The tumor is "diffuse" because it weaves through healthy brain tissue, which is why surgery isn't possible. It is most often diagnosed in children between about 5 and 10 years old.
DMG (Diffuse Midline Glioma)
DMG is the broader term. It covers diffuse gliomas that arise along the midline structures of the central nervous system, including the pons (DIPG), the thalamus, and the spinal cord. In 2021, the World Health Organization began classifying these tumors by their molecular features rather than location alone. The formal name is diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27-altered, reflecting a characteristic change in the histone H3 gene found in most of these tumors.
Why the terminology changed
As research advanced, scientists found that tumors in different midline locations often share the same genetic drivers and behave similarly. Grouping them under DMG helps researchers and clinicians study them together, match patients to clinical trials, and develop targeted therapies. You'll still see "DIPG" widely used, especially by families, advocates, and in older research, and it remains a useful way to describe a tumor in the pons.
What they share
Both are aggressive and currently have no cure
Both are treated with radiation as the standard of care, which can ease symptoms temporarily
Both are the focus of ongoing clinical trials and research into targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and new drug-delivery methods
Suggested disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Families should speak with their child's care team about diagnosis and treatment options.
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DIPG/DMG cancer primarily affects children, with most diagnoses occurring between 5 and 7 years of age. It makes up 10-15% of all brain tumors in children, with about 300 new diagnoses per year in the United States.
Researchers do not yet know what causes DIPG/DMG. Like most cancers, DIPG/DMG occurs when something goes wrong with the process of cell reproduction. However, unlike many other cancers, there is no evidence that indicates DIPG/DMG is caused by environmental factors (exposure to chemicals or radiation), or specific inherited genetic variations. -
While research over the last ten years has helped improve treatment for DIPG/DMG patients, and somewhat increased life expectancy, the prognosis is still not good–with the median survival range being from 9-12 months. Unfortunately, fewer than 10% of children survive two years from diagnosis.
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There is currently no cure for DIPG?DMG; however, The Cure Starts Now and the DIPG Collaborative are the biggest funders of DIPG research and are vested in finding the cure to DIPG. With over $18 million of DIPG/DMG specific research collectively funded, these organizations are laser focused and fueled by their own children's battles with DIPG/DMG and brain cancer.